School Visits

Elizabeth working with Hoover students

I really enjoy visiting your school or library! I have more than ten years of experience with children of all grades and levels, from kindergarten to middle school. I can do workshops or assemblies and I cater my presentation individually to each group.

In each presentation I talk about the creative process, starting from my own childhood. Most children identify with my experiences with parents, siblings, pets and colored pencils. I then talk about how picture books are made and I use mine as an example. I talk about the enormous effort and love that is needed for the production of each book.

I often read aloud from my picture books and then create a story with the children using fantasy and humor. I always finish with a Q and A time where children and teachers can ask me anything they want about the creative process.

The presentations for little kids last around 30 minutes and the presentations for older kids last for an hour. I often give three presentations in one morning.

Being Mexican, I have worked extensively with Latino children. I can give presentations in Spanish and English.

Testimonials

Elizabeth Gomez is not only an incredible illustrator of children’s books and exceptionally wonderful person, but she is also a great boon to the community. The mural she created for the Family Place here at the Redwood City Public Library is a focal point for the Children’s Room. Children and their parents spend a good deal of time gazing at all the little hidden details incorporated into the mural. She has also graced our author visits in the schools with her presentation for children and their families on how she creates her artwork. It’s quite often hard to get whole families out for an event, but hundreds showed up to hear her bring art and literature alive. She is a fascinating speaker and an excellent role model for our city’s children.

Chuck Ashton, Youth Services ManagerRedwood City Public Library

When Elizabeth visited our school, Hatch Elementary in Half Moon Bay, she brought with her the wonderment of literacy. She accomplished this feat, by related childhood stories about the importance of reading and being literate. She used funny stories that the students could relate to and because of this she touched many of the students desire to read and share what they had read. That was very powerful, indeed.

Jan McFarland BrownHatch Elementary School, Half Moon Bay

On multiple occasions Elizabeth Gomez has conducted excellent oil painting workshops for my advanced level high school art students. Elizabeth began by showing her art work and talking to the students about her personal art experience–from childhood to becoming a professional artist. Her insights, life-perspectives, humor, and wisdom surfaced quickly in her talk. My students instantly connected with Elizabeth’s naturally warm, inviting, and whimsical nature. They found her to be real, approachable, wise and knowledgable.

During her hands-on workshop on oil painting, Elizabeth’s vast knowledge was evident; yet she presents oils in a very approachable and relaxing way. Students walk away with a finished product, feeling successful and inspired.

Each year I look forward to having Elizabeth return to my class.

Mozy da Costra PintoIB Art Teacher, Sequoia High School, Redwood City

Elizabeth Gomez painted the luminous mural that hangs in our library’s Family Place, sparking cries from observant kids who suddenly realize that the octopus is reading eight books at once or that the submarine propeller is made from books. It seemed only natural that we ask her to present in our Family Author Night in the Schools program, and we were right! Elizabeth knows exactly how to hold an audience, in this case ranging from students to their parents (and grandparents, and little brothers and sisters). Through a mixture of slides of her own work and pictures of her younger self, she kept audiences engaged, showed how a book is made, how an artist is made, and how someone just like her audience can grow up to be an artist and make books themselves. Moving fluidly between English and Spanish, Elizabeth manages to inspire and instruct her listeners by always being entertaining and knowing just what will interest them. In short, Elizabeth Gomez rocks the house!

Cristina ThorsonChildren’s LibrarianRedwood City Public Library

Having taught her two daughters, I have had the pleasure to personally know and work with artist Elizabeth Gomez. Sharing her insights about art and the creative process, she taught wonderful hands on art lessons to my third and fourth grade classes. She is a natural teacher, comfortable bringing her amazing professional skill and inspiration to kindergarteners as well as middle school students. Her expertise, playful spirit, and personal warmth excite and inspire children to explore art with both confidence and sense of play.